My Kids Went Running With Me (and that's the best title I can come up with right now!)

I haven't sat down at my computer since last Friday.  It has been kind of nice.  I finished my last scheduled photo session last week and I am enjoying my first break since last May. I told myself and Dave I wasn't going to take any sessions for February, March and the first half of April.  I have really needed a break (Christmas rush was too crazy) but now, after a week off, I do miss it a little bit.  I have organized some clutter spots in the house and have had more time to exercise and play with the kids.  I do love not having a session hanging over my head all of the time to finish editing.  But like I said, I miss it too.

Anyway, I wrote this post last Friday and got distracted or something and never posted it.  I'm posting it now because it's funny to me.  Friday was great, Saturday was the opposite.  At least the first half of Saturday.  Dave was working and the kids did not want to do jobs, clean up, help in anyway and we had to have some serious feelings over all of it.  Everyone was tired, grumpy, feisty, everything.  It's amazing to me how two back to back days can be so different!! Anyway, here it is- a little snippet of a good day.

Today we were going to go on a fun outing because the kids are out of school. Then Mack woke up in the night really congested, couldn't breathe out of his nose, a cough and couldn't sleep. So, we had to stay home and I was worried it would be the pits.

Today at 9 am I told the kids I was taking the baby and going on my morning run. They all wanted to come and they chose to go the full route (2.5 miles) and they chose to run the whole time! It was like the good old days when they loved doing things like that. I was so happy to have all 4 of them with me. The weather was to die for and it was a great start to a day that I was worried was going to be rough.

Today Dave had appointments in Brentwood in the afternoon. He called me at 11:30 and asked if we could meet for lunch before his first appointment! The kids were watching tv, the baby was asleep, so I asked Lexi if she could be in charge for a few minutes and raced over to meet him for a quick bite. I felt so sneaky because the kids had no idea daddy was in town and it was fun getting a little break halfway through the day, some yummy food, and daddy all to myself. I love when things that you're not expecting happen.

Today the baby yelled at me all day long, wouldn't go down for his naps without some serious rocking/bouncing and wiped snot on everyone and everything. But he was so cute as he stuffed his beloved strawberries in his mouth, tried his first (healthy) chicken nugget, and pushed everyone and everything out of his face angrily. I know he's so grumpy because he doesn't feel well but he is still so darling to me even when he's mad and mean.

Today the sun shined and the wind was non-existent and the kids could be outside playing with neighbor friends for as long as they wanted and that is the best ever.

Today I enjoyed my first break from photography is almost a year. I finished my last session and I'm taking a couple of months off and it feels wonderful. I love photography but need some time without editing hanging in the back of my head.

Today I worked on MY photos. I sorted old pictures, put some albums together and ordered prints for more albums. I am so excited to be caught up on our family pictures.

Today when Mack was eating I turned some music on. I looked over and he sat there bobbing up and down smiling while he did a little baby dance. The kids were bouncing on the trampoline and everyone was happy.

Today the kitchen is clean, the laundry is going, my kids are playing with orbies together and I am loving life.

Here's to hoping tomorrow is just as good!

ps have you tried the new blogger?  Wow.  It's different. But I think it will be good different.  I hope!

Who Does He Look Like?

LEXI

LOGAN

MACEY

MACK

This photo almost didn't happen and then one day the stars aligned... he fell asleep in my arms, he was dressed (although not dressed up as much as I would have liked), the lighting was perfect in my room, the girls were home to help me, we had no where else to be, my camera was nearby etc. etc. He was 8 weeks old and it dawned on me that that was when I had had the sleeping pictures taken of the other kids... so I knew I had to do it. The girls ran around quickly to find a stuffed bear, cut its collar/ribbon off for me, got my camera, opened my blinds, and held the backdrop up! I set him down and he miraculously stayed asleep as I got the bear under his head. It is harder than you think at 8 weeks to move a sleeping baby around. Anyway, it worked out and I'm so glad. I do wish his head was turned as much as theirs are.... it is not perfect but I can't turn back time so it is good enough. I love to look at these and try to decide who he looks the most like. I think it's Lexi, although he has Macey's eyes and Logan's brow. I love as time goes on to see their faces change and in the end they are just themselves... unique but the same too. I love it.

Annual Grandma Visit and Other Stuff

(my kids all sort of look like their grandma in this picture do you think?)

My kids are out of town right now at their wonderful Grandma Susie's house. I cannot tell you how excited they were to go. Grandma hasn't been feeling that great and the trip was possibly not going to happen. Then we decided to go for it and I knew they would need to just take it easy with Grandma and not run around doing tons of stuff. I asked them each individually what they were most excited about. All three of them told me they were just excited to see Grandma. How sweet is that?

Before Macey left she, with tears in her eyes, gave me a note that said, "I will miss you. If I get lost I will search the whole wide world for you." It almost made me cry. She is so full of emotion and I love it.

I just got a text from Lexi asking me the ingredients for cheesy potatoes. I was dying because I didn't even know she had a cell phone with her! I texted her back and told her to call me. Turns out she has my old razor phone and thought she'd send me a text. It was funny.

So far I've heard that they've been busy making bird houses for a tree fort outside, bought a fish tank and fish, made American Girl clothes, and stayed up late playing games. I'm so thankful for their loving Grandma that spends time with them!

And of course, it is awesome to get a few days to myself.

I need to document a few life happenings while I have a moment:

Lexi and Logan played their first season of basketball and really enjoyed it. I liked it too. It was more low-key than other sports we do and being inside a gym was nice!

Logan participated in his first pinewood derby and loved it. He made his car mostly by himself. It didn't win or even get close but he was ok with it and told me he got some good tips for next year.

He also had his school musical about Dr. Suess and it was super cute.

The best part about having your kids leave for a few days is you miss them and remember how glad you are that they're around making your life full and happy.

Talent Show Dance

We had a talent show at church this week. My kids did a number... it was so cute and they learned it in a day. Unfortunately our real video camera malfunctioned at the event and we didn't get the performance recorded "live." Which is too bad because at the end they threw candy out into the audience and it was funny. Also, they did their best because of the cheering they were getting.

I am totally relishing their ages right now because a year or two ago there is NO way Logan would have done something like this, and in a few years I'm sure he won't want to again. But for now, they were all into it.

Here's a pre-recorded version.... Macey is a bit halfhearted in it toward the end, and then quits earlier but it is what we have so enjoy!

Bedtime Coversation

Last night I was laying in bed with Macey.

Me: Your bed is so comfy.

Macey: You can sleep here tonight Mom. Seriously. If you fall asleep here right now, it is like no problem!

Me: Thanks Mace, you're so good at sharing.

Macey: You're so good at being a mom.

Just what I needed to hear tonight. My three precious babies are the biggest blessings of my life.

*

Looking Back...

Once upon a time my kids were little...

and chubby...

and they needed me....

I know they still need me, but just in a different way.  They don't need me to wipe their bums anymore that's for sure.  And they don't need me to hold them as much as they used to and I miss that.

All of these pictures are from our family trip to Mexico in 2006.  I lost them when my hard drive died but luckily, and thanks to my cousin Marie, I have them back because I had long ago uploaded them to her online scrapbook site!   She's going to make me a scrapbook of the trip!  Yippee!